Anyone Retire In A "Snowbelt" Area?

I don’t know which is worse, the cold, or the heat and humidity. I was born and raised in Tennessee. I loved the weather back then ,but I know I could not handle it now, at the same time the heat and humidity of south Alabama is a killer.


Just visited my doctor. He said if you want to maintain your mental health you have to go out regardless of the weather.
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This is the key I think you got to get out in it and adjust regardless.
 

ClassicRockr said:
Anyway, if you retired in a "snowbelt" area, how are you handling the winters?
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Retired to Alaska from PA and never noticed the difference until two years ago. My son was trying to get me to move near him and grandchildren in Texas but it took me getting stranded in my cabin for two weeks to get me to move. I could not deal with shoveling all that snow. Now I am looking to return only closer to civilization than I lived before.
 
I just retired, and am currently living in the snow-belt here in Michigan. I am nearing completion of my final retirement digs, higher north in one of Michigan's deepest snow-belts east of Traverse City. Originally left CA because I wanted to live in snow; went to the mountains of Colorado for over a decade, then Maine for almost two decades, now landed here. I will be close to ski areas, and couldn't be happier. I realize there are few people that enjoy cold, but I am not moving to a ghost town, so apparently someone shares my views.
 

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.I was born/raised still live right in the city where we get snow,but areas south of here known as 'snowbelt' get much more than the city does. The ski resorts are all located there.Its one of the interesting facts about living in WNY,not every area gets the same amt of snow
The past couple of winters have been 'warm',meaning less snow totals in previous yrs,our average is over 100. This winter is an average one. Sue
 
ProsperosDaughter said:
I am never embarrassed to admit when I learn something new; which in reverse means I did not know. I'm going out on a limb here but I'll guess there are things you do not know.:)

Additional, again using wiki as my source, “snowbelt” areas are those that receive snow as a result of weather patterns caused by the Great Lakes not just every state that receives a lot of snow.
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I like your attitude ProsperousDaughter!! So you didn't know what a "snowbelt" was. You did what you needed to do to find out. I love learning something new...sometimes that happens on a daily basis. So I Wiki'ed it. N.J. isn't mentioned as a snowbelt but we sure as hell can get a lot of snow too. Got news for you Classic Rocker...I truly believe that the weather patterns are shifting and the events of this year, seeing Jacksonville and other parts of Florida experience cold and even snow, will happen more frequently. I've always lived here in northeastern N.J. I remember going to school and the snow was piled up higher than me. Two years ago, we got over two feet of snow. I think it would be harder for those who live in a nice, warm climate and move back to areas with winters than for us who've always lived where we experience winters.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I like your attitude ProsperousDaughter!! So you didn't know what a "snowbelt" was. You did what you needed to do to find out. I love learning something new...sometimes that happens on a daily basis. So I Wiki'ed it. N.J. isn't mentioned as a snowbelt but we sure as hell can get a lot of snow too. Got news for you Classic Rocker...I truly believe that the weather patterns are shifting and the events of this year, seeing Jacksonville and other parts of Florida experience cold and even snow, will happen more frequently. I've always lived here in northeastern N.J. I remember going to school and the snow was piled up higher than me. Two years ago, we got over two feet of snow. I think it would be harder for those who live in a nice, warm climate and move back to areas with winters than for us who've always lived where we experience winters.
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Well, we aren't 100% ready, but still have the winter parkas from Colorado. Have had many chances to get rid of them, but didn't. So, apparently, somehow we knew we'd move back to cold and snow. It's just like people say......."gotta take the good with the bad, if you want to live somewhere you'd really like and enjoy". We made a mistake moving to Florida, but have done some cool things since we've been here.

Just looking highly forward to spending some time in a "Western" type area and going to a major rodeo in Wyoming this summer.
 
retiredtraveler said:
I'm born and raised in greater Chicago area, as is DW. Because we have quite a bit of family in this area, we're not going anywhere. As far as Florida, I'll take snow and cold over hurricanes, high heat and humidity, sinkholes, high crime rates in some areas, highest rate in nature for home foreclosures and second for underwater mortgages, one of the largest discrepancies of any state in income.

I can't comprehend what people see in moving to Florida.
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I would not live anywhere else but Florida, you don't have to shovel heat. In 30 years only one minimal hurricane, no sink holes, etc. We grew up in a coastal area where humidity is the norm.
 
Manatee said:
I would not live anywhere else but Florida, you don't have to shovel heat. In 30 years only one minimal hurricane, no sink holes, etc. We grew up in a coastal area where humidity is the norm.
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Minimal hurricanes?? What about Mathew and Irma?? Flooding, more flooding and lots of destruction....to say the least.
 
My wife and I had been talking about retiring in Florida for a while, but we decided that we really like the 4 seasons in New England and would rather that than the high heat summers of the southern US. We are looking to retire in Maine or New Hampshire, we'll put up with some cold and snow in winter to have nice weather in summer and a cool spring & fall.
 
We've been considering this retirement home in northern New England. Needs a little work but it may be worth it. If you climb the roof ladder, there's a beautiful view of a mountain range in the distance. Home Depot and Lowe's are less than 25 miles away for a DIY-er.:D

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JimW said:
My wife and I had been talking about retiring in Florida for a while, but we decided that we really like the 4 seasons in New England and would rather that than the high heat summers of the southern US. We are looking to retire in Maine or New Hampshire, we'll put up with some cold and snow in winter to have nice weather in summer and a cool spring & fall.
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Hi Jim - - -On a serious note, we live in southeastern Mass, on the coast, and our only choice if moving, would be to head north into the states that you mention. It's a beautiful place to be for three seasons and for a number of years we were fortunate enough to be able to head to Florida, Jan thru the beginning of April. A couple of years, on this schedule, we missed any snow at all.

If you get inland a bit, away from the tourist saturated coast, property prices are lower and life is paced slower. Same in New Hampshire. Away from the southern border with Mass. and the tourist hot-spots, it's similar to Maine. We enjoy our stays in western Maine each spring and fall.
 
Manatee said:
I would not live anywhere else but Florida, you don't have to shovel heat. In 30 years only one minimal hurricane, no sink holes, etc. We grew up in a coastal area where humidity is the norm.
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lol

I say the same thing about Dallas. Some winters here it doesn't snow at all. Some winters here it might snow a little [average snowfall is one inch]... but it soon melts off by itself when the normal winter temps get back up in the 50s and 60s. Winter here is like fall and spring in the North. Yes it gets hot and humid here in summer. But no one here skips a beat coming and going from their air conditioned house to their air conditioned car to their conditioned office, store, etc...
 
ClassicRockr said:
Minimal hurricanes?? What about Mathew and Irma?? Flooding, more flooding and lots of destruction....to say the least.
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Irma brushed by us and hit Lakeland, Mathew did not come near us at all. Some places are more prone to hurricanes than others. My sister on the Atlantic coast has been hit a number of times.
 
Manatee said:
Irma brushed by us and hit Lakeland, Mathew did not come near us at all. Some places are more prone to hurricanes than others. My sister on the Atlantic coast has been hit a number of times.
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We read that hurricanes don’t generally hit Jacksonville because of it’s location in northeastern Florida, but there was plenty flooding in Jax Beach an St Augustine from Mathew and Irma really mess up parts of Jacksonville, including docks and boats along the St John’s River.

We have one more summer here and then, very hopefully we will be out of here and back to where we belong in either northern Colorado or Wyoming.
 
I'm retired in New Jersey. I like four seasons. Including the snow. I even enjoy shoveling - but thank you snow blower inventors. We had one day a couple of weeks ago that was perfect. We got a snow that disappeared from roads and driveways quickly but stayed on trees and green surfaces all day because it was cold. It was sunny as I drove to my daughters house to babysit our 2 1/2 yr old granddaughter. The sun sparkled off the fields, hills and tree tops. It was too cold for teh snow to melt as dirty snow tossed up along side roads. It was pristine and beautiful. I had a great music station on the radio. The 30 minute drive through the rural countryside made my day. Took my granddaughter out to build a snow man. A family of deer showed up on the far side of the lot and we tossed snowballs their way. We never got the snowballs anywhere close to them but my G-D laughed with glee. I think the day extended my life by a few years.

I've thought about moving to a more tax friendly, less regulated, and quite frankly, less liberal state. But our family is here and friends and activities. And I would miss the four seasons. So we'll probably stay put.
 
DaveA said:
Hi Jim - - -On a serious note, we live in southeastern Mass, on the coast, and our only choice if moving, would be to head north into the states that you mention. It's a beautiful place to be for three seasons and for a number of years we were fortunate enough to be able to head to Florida, Jan thru the beginning of April. A couple of years, on this schedule, we missed any snow at all.

If you get inland a bit, away from the tourist saturated coast, property prices are lower and life is paced slower. Same in New Hampshire. Away from the southern border with Mass. and the tourist hot-spots, it's similar to Maine. We enjoy our stays in western Maine each spring and fall.
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Hi Dave,

My wife and I love NH & Maine. I owned lakefront property during my first marriage for 16 years in East Wakefield, NH just south of Ossipee. We have also vacationed in the Sebago area quite a few times. I've always felt that was where I belonged, I just couldn't find any work up there that paid anywhere near what I was making in Mass. We figure that even if we do eventually tire of the harsh winters up north we'll still be able to rent something down south for 3 or 4 months out of the year just like you mentioned.
 
Enjoying the four seasons as we do we stay in Indianapolis which, if it does snow, has the advantage of being flat. I dealt with hills of western Pennsylvania as a kid and wouldn't want to now. As far as moving to Florida (Heaven's Waiting Room)........it's like I used to say as a mailman: Through rain and snow, sleet and hail.....have no fear I'll bring your mail. But, when temps go above ninety in the hot summer sun....screw you folks...the mail don't run.
 
At 85, or less, sweat comes pouring out. That is true of most higher humidity areas of the US. Why not try our dryer desert weather and find that you will be much hotter before those ugly sweat spells take over. Most any where east of the Mississippi valley in the US. And for us that live within the lakes effects area it can be even worse.
 
Some folks don't miss a state they have lived in for a number of years, while others wish they were back in the state they lived in for a number of years.

When we left central Colorado, all we thought about is that we were selling our house and leaving an area where we'd have a high chance of falling in the winter and possibly becoming disabled. I had already done that and that fall required rotator cuff surgery/rehab. Never gave it a thought that either of us could fall anywhere we'd move to. Ended up here in Jacksonville, FL and since living here, both myself and my wife have fallen. Her fall didn't require any medical attention, but my fall required rotator cuff surgery on my other shoulder.
We had absolutely no idea how much we'd miss the things we liked so much about living in Colorado. We gave this area a chance, a 9-year chance now, but have totally decided that Jacksonville and Florida just isn't for us. We truly miss the "Western/cowboy" stuff we enjoyed in Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming. We know about the winter months, and that we are now 10 years older than when we left Colorado in late 2007, but the lifestyle there is missed very much.

One thing for sure, we'd never move back to Florida!
 
I'm planning on retiring ~ a year from now (about to turn 64).

We moved to Maine 18 years ago from San Diego. LOVE the quality of life here. Though a few years ago I did get to the point where winter's felt awfully long. Longer than usual (lol!). I'm sure it's just me angsting for spring/summer as most do, who live in states with a substantial winter season.

I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with it after retirement. I will have to work part time (because NO WAY am I working full time until I'm 70). But I'm spoiled right now as my drive to work is 6 minutes. I'll be looking in the same general area. If I had to drive 30-40 minutes to work in a snow storm at age 68 I'd be pooping my pants!

One major concern for me is heating costs. We add to the tank about 3 times a season. That's anywhere from $250-300+ a pop (that's WITH the "senior discount" of 0.02 cents a gallon, minimum order 100 gal). We had a severe cold snap about 8 or 10 weeks back. No oil deliveries for a couple weeks for us. So, used the space heaters (safe kind!). Boy, did that run up the electric bill. These types of expenses come at you sideways, so this concerns me as I consider savings/planning for retirement.

I've got enough hobbies I can pick back up to help fill time during the winter months when you're inside more, along with the part time job I plan on acquiring to keep me busy.

I hope I hit on some of the type of information you were looking for regarding living in 'snowbelt' areas. :)
 
Ken N Tx said:
We spent 40 years in Illinois then moved the family to Texas, don't miss it one bit!!!!!!
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I bloomed where God first planted me... Texas !
When you know you live in paradise... why leave ;)

.
 

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